Allianz withdraws from coal projects amid climate risks

Munich – As of now, insurance giant Allianz is no longer insuring single coal-fired power plants and coalmines. Investments in coal-based business models will also be gradually phased out.

One of the world’s largest insurance groups is saying farewell to the coal business. Allianz Groupannounced last week that it will no longer provide property and casualty insurance to single coal-fired power plants or coal mines. Companies that generate electricity from multiple sources, such as coal, other fossil fuels or renewable energies, will be reviewed individually on the basis of defined ESG criteria.

Allianz also intends to gradually phase out coal from its investment portfolio and will step-by-step lower the threshold value in the energy sector for the maximum share of coal used by the emitters it finances in five per cent steps from the current thirty per cent to zero by 2040.

In addition, the insurance group is joining the Science Based Targets initiative, which was founded by CDP, UN Global Compact and WWF. The non-profit aims to support companies from over 45 industries and in all regions of the world in setting emission reduction targets that are in line with achieving international climate targets.

The announcement is part of Allianz’s strategy to actively support the global change to a low-carbon economy over the coming decades. Allianz is one of the first insurance companies to set itself long-term climate goals linked to the two-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement.

“Climate change generates enormous economic and social risks. It is already harming millions of people today,” said Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte. “As a leading insurer and investor, we want to promote the transition to a climate-friendly economy.”

Allianz believes that its gradual withdrawal from coal investments will also encourage the companies its finances to move away from fossil fuels.

“As a long-term investor, we want to shape the change to a climate-friendly economy together with our clients,” said Günther Thallinger, member of the Allianz board of management responsible for investments and ESG. “We will thus also strategically develop our investment opportunities in new technologies.”